Apparatus for drying molds and the like



Feb; 9, 1932. s. H. ENGLE 1,844,060

MiPARAfIUS FOR DRYING MOLDS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 18. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTORNEYS.

Feb. 9, 1932. s. H. ENGLE APPARATUS FOR DRYING MOLDS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 18. 1930 INVENTOR:

' 1w jif glg A TTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 9, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STEPHEN H. ENGLE, OF WYOMISSING, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO TEXTILE MA- CHINE WORKS, OF WYOMISSING, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA APPARATUS FOR DRYING MOLDS AND THE LIKE Application filed January 18, 1930. Serial No. 421,706.

This invention relates to apparatus for-drying molds and the like.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a novel drying device or apparatus of the heater type, generally useful for drying various articles, and more particularly adapted for drying one or more molds, s multaneously or successively, and without wastage or loss of heat.

The invention comprises adrying apparatus including a heating chamber provided with one or more wall apertures adjacent to which the articles to be dried are applied, heating means within the chamber, and doors .for opening and closing the apertures.

Other featuresand attendant advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of one embodiment thereof as exemplified in connection with the drying of molds, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved drying device, partly broken away.

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view through the device shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the arrows 3 3 on Fig. 2.

For the purpose of clearly setting forth the invention, I have illustrated the apparatus in connection with the drying of molds, however, it will readily be apparent as the description proceeds, that it is just as capable of drying or heating other articles.

The device as shown, comprises a heating chamber or housing 5, which is preferably insulated with asbestos or the like, to prevent loss of heat by radiation, and within which is located suitable heating means, such as a well known electrical heating unit, indicated at 6. The unit is connected to a source of electric energy, in the present instance indicated as power lines A, B, through a circuit switch 7 and a rheos'tat 8, which latter controls the current flow in the unit 6, and consequently the heat within the chamber 5. The tem perature of the chamber may be determined by a suitable temperature indicating device (not shown) which if desired can be directly mounted on the device so as to constantly register the temperature within the chamber.

One or more apertures are provided in the chamber 5, to which the articles to be dried are directly applied, in the manner illustrated by a mold indicated at 9 in Fig. 3. In order to prevent wastage or loss of heat from the chamber during the application or removal of the mold, slide doors 10 and 11, of heat insulating material such as asbestos, are mounted to permit of opening and closing the apertures.

In the present instance the doors are mounted to move vertically through guide slots in the top wall of the chamber 5 and are actuated by weighted levers 12 and 13, suitably connected therewith as by chains 14 and 15 trained over idle pulleys adjustably secured to a bearing bracket 16 centrally secured to the top of the chamber, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The levers 12 and 13 are pivoted respectively at 17 and 18 on brackets 19 and 20, fixed to the end wall of the chamber, a crossbar 21 which connects the brackets 19 and serving as a stop for the levers in their raised and lowered positions.

Door guide angles 22 and 23 are fixed t0 the inside walls of the housing 5, to guide the doors 10 and 11 during their vertical movements.

Operation To operate the device, the electric current is turned on by closing switch 7, and the rheostat 8 adjusted to obtain the proper temperature within the heating chamber 5. The mold 9 is then placed adjacent to the door 10, over an aperture of the chamber in such manner as to entirely cover and close the same, as shown in Fig. 3, and the door 10 raised by pulling down the lever 13 until it hits the stop bar 21. The face of the mold is then directly exposed to the stored heat emanating from the chamber, and the unit 6. The length of time required for dry ing the mold is readily determined, and when the same has been properly dried, the door 10 is lowered by raising the lever 13 to the position shown in Fig. 1. The mold may then be removed without any wastage or loss of heat, and another one applied in like manner. It will be noted, that this also accomplishes the maintenance of a more constantly uniform temperature within the heating chamher than heretofore possible with devices which allowed heat to escape whenever the molds were changed.

A mold may be similarly and simultaneously applied to the opposite side of the hous- 111g, provided, if desired, which function in similar manner and which may be manually or automatically controlled.

Of course, the apparatus for drying molds shown and described, may be modified and. changed in various ways, and changes may be desirable and required in order to adapt the invention to dry or heat various articles, it is therefore to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction set forth, but that such changes and alterations may be made as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for drying molds and the like comprising a heat chamber provided with opposed wall apertures, a mold contacting face surrounding each aperture, electrical heating means within said chamber, slide doors for opening and closing the apertures, and weight-and-lever means for operating said doors.

2. An apparatus for drying molds and the like comprising a heat chamber provided with opposed wall apertures, a mold contacting face surrounding each aperture, heating elements within said chamber, an aperture closing door between each mold contacting face and said heating elements, and a separate counter-balance lever for each door adapted to vertically move the latter.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

STEPHEN H. ENGLE.

and instead of two doors, more can be 

